Michigan / Leelanau County / Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore / Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve / Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness

Popple Campground - South Manitou Island

Open — The campground is open year-round, but ferry service from Leland operates only from May through October. During winter months, access is limited to private boat or by hiking across the frozen lake ice. No reservations are accepted.

About

Popple Campground is the most remote and secluded of the three campgrounds on South Manitou Island, located approximately 3.5 miles from the ferry dock at the northern tip of the island. The campground features 7 individual first-come, first-served sites positioned near the beach, offering campers a true wilderness experience within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Access to the island requires taking the Manitou Island Transit ferry from Leland, Michigan, or arriving by private boat with proper authorization. The remote location means fewer campers typically choose this campground, providing greater solitude compared to the Bay and Weather Station campgrounds closer to the dock. The campground sits within the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness and is part of the larger national lakeshore. Campers must be self-sufficient and prepared for backcountry conditions. No potable water is available, so water filtration equipment is essential. Vault toilets are provided year-round, but there are no showers or other amenities. Each site has access to communal metal fire rings, and campers may only use down and dead wood for fires. A camping permit and park entrance pass are required, and permits must be purchased before boarding the ferry at the Leland dock. Sites are limited to 4 persons and 2 tents per site. Pets, bicycles, and all wheeled vehicles are prohibited on the island trails and in the campgrounds.

Directions

Access via Manitou Island Transit ferry from Leland, Michigan (May-October) or by private boat. After landing at the South Manitou Island dock, hike approximately 3.5 miles north to reach Popple Campground on the northern tip of the island. For detailed trail information, visit the NPS website at nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/smicamping.htm.

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